Automated cushioning producing and filling system

Abstract

An automated cushioning producing and filling system includes a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into cut pads of a selected length and transports the pads to a staging location, a pad sensor for sensing the presence of a pad in the staging location, a box transporting system for transporting a box from a remote location to a filling location, a box sensor for sensing the presence of a box in the filling location, a bar code reader for reading a bar code from the box indicative of the packaging requirements of the box when the box sensor has sensed the presence of a box in the filling location, a pad transferring apparatus for transferring a pad from the staging location to the box when the pad sensor has sensed the presence of a pad in the staging area, and a system controller for determining the box packaging requirements from the code read by the bar code reader and instructing the cushioning conversion machine to produce pads in accordance with the packaging requirements for the box.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automated cushioning producing and filling system, comprising: a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into cut pads of a selected length;   a box transporting system for transporting a box to a filling location;   a reading element for reading a code associated the box indicative of the packaging requirements of the box when the box is in the filling location;   a pad transferring apparatus for transferring a formed pad from the cushioning conversion machine to the box;   a system controller for determining the box packaging requirements from the code read by the reading element and instructing the cushioning conversion machine to produce pads in accordance with the packaging requirements for the box; and   a pad sensor for detecting the presence of a formed pad.   
     
     
       2. An automated cushioning producing and filling system, comprising: a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into cut pads of a selected length;   a box transporting system for transporting a box to a filling location;   a reading element for reading a code associated the box indicative of the packaging requirements of the box when the box is in the filling location;   a pad transferring apparatus for transferring a formed pad from the cushioning conversion machine to the box; and   a system controller for determining the box packaging requirements from the code read by the reading element and instructing the cushioning conversion machine to produce pads in accordance with the packaging requirements for the box.   
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2, wherein the code reader includes a bar code reader. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2, wherein the system controller instructs the cushioning conversion machine to produce the number of pads and the respective pad lengths based on the code associated with the box. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 2, wherein the box transporting system includes a box sensor for sensing the presence of a box in the filling location. 
     
     
       6. An automated cushioning producing and filling system, comprising: a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into cut pads of a selected length;   a box transporting system for transporting a box to a filling location;   a reading element for reading a code associated the box indicative of the packaging requirements of the box when the box is in the filling location;   a pad transferring apparatus for transferring a formed pad from the cushioning conversion machine to the box; and   a system controller for determining the box packaging requirements from the code read by the reading element and instructing the cushioning conversion machine to produce pads in accordance with the packaging requirements for the box;   wherein the cushioning conversion machine includes a pad conveyor for conveying pads from the machine exit to a staging location from which they are accessible by the pad transferring apparatus.   
     
     
       7. A cushioning conversion system, comprising: a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into cut pads of a selected length and transports the pads to a staging location;   a pad sensor for sensing the presence of a pad in the staging location;   a box transporting system for transporting a box from a remote location to a filling location;   a code reader for reading a code associated with the box indicative of the packaging requirements of the box;   a pad transferring apparatus for transferring a pad from the staging location to the box when the pad sensor has sensed the presence of a pad in the staging area; and   a system controller for determining the box packaging requirements from the code read by the code reader and instructing the cushioning conversion machine to produce pads in accordance with the packaging requirements for the box.   
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system controller determines the packaging requirements for the box through use of a look-up table. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 7, wherein the cushioning conversion machine includes a forming assembly which causes the lateral edges of the stock paper to move inwardly to form a continuous strip having two lateral pillow-like portions and a central band therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 7, wherein the cushioning conversion machine includes a stock supply assembly, a forming assembly for forming the stock paper into the strip of cushioning product, a feed assembly for feeding stock material through the forming assembly and a severing assembly which severs the strip of cushioning product into pads of a desired length. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 7, including a retractable gate for stopping the box in the filling location prior to being filled and for permitting the box to be transported from the filling location after being filled. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 7, including a retractable gate for stopping the box at a reading location in a reading location adjacent the code reader and for permitting the box to be transported from the reading location to the filling location. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 7, wherein the code reader is a bar code reader. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 11, including a box sensor for sensing the presence of a box in the filling location. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 12, including a box sensor for sensing the presence of a box in the reading location.